ShelterBox, a recent CARE client, have been headlining the news in the past few weeks with their significant aid work in both Burma and China. The charity has been among the first to respond to these disasters by sending thousands of ShelterBoxes, emergency survival kits containing tents, mosquito nets, tools and water purifying tablets, to the help relieve the devastation. The charity’s operation in these areas is led by a team of volunteers who are overseeing the distribution of the boxes, making sure aid gets direct to those people who need it the most.

Tom Henderson from ShelterBox commented on the BBC News website that they were "absolutely delighted" to have made it into Burma so quickly. He said: "Our team was on the doorstep of the Burmese embassy in London when it opened last Monday and the fact that we have worked in 44 countries, our reputation and the quality of the product persuaded the Burmese authorities to give us visas. We were able to nip through a rapidly closing door." ShelterBox have also made an initial commitment of 400 boxes to assist the earthquake victims in China.

The ShelterBox Trust is a registered UK charity that provides emergency aid for victims of natural and other disasters anywhere in the world. Formed seven years ago, ShelterBox aims to provide shelter in the event of disasters occurring throughout the world. ShelterBox has helped an estimated 500,000 people and worked in more than 40 countries – responding to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, wars, volcanoes etc.

ShelterBox selected CARE in March 2008 for their central CRM solution to support their current growth and a planned increase in services, to capitalise upon modern technologies and to centralise administrative, management and service delivery functions. Furthermore, as ShelterBox get no help from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeals and raise all their own funding, the powerful segmenting, profiling and reporting tools in CARE will help the charity to boost their fundraising. The implementation process is underway with the expected go live in the early autumn.

Each ShelterBox is worth £499 and provides aid for 10 people, who desperately need your help. Please support ShelterBox and their important aid work in Burma and China by donating towards the cost of one box that the IRIS CARE team is aiming to raise. You can do this online at http://www.justgiving.com/IRISNFP. Thank you for your support.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor: Shelterbox Trust Limited gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.